Draw means for sliding screen and the like

ABSTRACT

Draw means for a sliding screen supported on a traverse rod and comprising a wire member including two co-axially disposed leading and trailing loops connected by a rigid straight section. A manually engageable handle depends from the trailing loop. The loops embrace the traverse rod from which the screen is suspended as by ring elements. The draw means is disposed between two consecutive ring elements and movement of the draw means will effect corresponding sliding movement of the screen. In a modified embodiment the leading loop is provided with an extension which is connected to the screen.

United States Patent Eaves 1 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] DRAW MEANS FOR SLIDING SCREEN AND THE LIKE [72] Inventor:v Randall H. Eaves, Des Plaines, Ill.

[73] Assignee: DeSota, Inc., Des Plaines, Ill.

[22] Filed: March 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 122,002

[52] U.S. Cl ..160/126, l60/DIG. 9, 160/330 [51] Int. Cl...... ..A47h 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..160/126, 330, 332, 333, 334, 160/340, 341, 342, 343, DIG. 9; 16/87 B, 87.2, 87.4, DIG. 11; 126/202, 140

[5 6] References Cited UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 3,359,968 12/1967 Thulman ..126/202 1,829,297 10/1931 Rapp ..16/87.2

Att0rney--Nathan N. Kraus and Joseph R. Marcus [57] ABSTRACT Draw means for a sliding screen supported on a traverse rod and comprising a wire member including two co-axially disposed leading and trailing loops connected by a rigid straight section. A manually engageable handle depends from the trailing'loop. The loops embrace the traverse rod from which the screen is suspended as by ring elements. The draw means is disposed between two consecutive ring elements and movement of the draw means will effect corresponding sliding movement of the screen. In a modified embodiment the leading loop is provided with an extension which isconnected to the screen.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DRAW MEANS FOR SLIDING SCREEN AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to manual draw means for sliding screens and the like. In a particular application my invention may be applied to metal mesh type screens mounted in front of a fireplace, although it will be understood that the invention has application to other types of screens, draw drapes and curtains.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART I-Ieretofore, in the case of manually operable mesh screens, the draw means generally provided consisted of a knob or handle mounted directly on the screen edge a short distance below the traverse rod on which the screen was supported. When the handle was engaged to move the screen longitudinally of the traverse rod, unless the direction of pull were very carefully controlled, the suspension means for the screen tended to bind on the rod thereby affecting the smooth movement of the screen on the rod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the objects of the present invention are the provision of a manual draw means for a sliding screen, which affords a convenient location for manual engagement, which minimizes binding in the movement of the screen on the supporting rod, providing smooth sliding movement of the screen and which provides a mechanical advantage requiring a minimum of effort to move the screen. Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a mesh type fireplace screen showing my invention applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a draw means, in accordance with one embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the draw means illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, and showing a modified embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the modified embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, illustrating one embodiment of my invention, draw members 9 and 10, in accordance with my invention, are shown applied to a double hung metal mesh fireplace screen constituting two mesh screen sections 11 and 12, each slideably supported as by a series of spaced loop or ring elements 13 on respective traverse rods 14 and 15 extending across the front of the fireplace and concealed from view by a flanged canopy 16. The sections meet and overlap at the center of the fireplace.

The draw members 9 and 10 are each integrally fabricated from suitable metal wire or rod and are allochirally formed so that one is a mirror image of the other. For purpose of simplifying the description, only one draw member will be described with corresponding primed numerals employed to designate corresponding parts of the other draw member.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the draw member 9 comprises a leading loop 17, an intermediate straight portion 18, a trailing loop 19 and a depending handle portion 21 terminating in a hand engageable spherical knob 22.

The leading and trailing loops l7 and 19 respectively, are co-axially disposed and each comprises a helical loop describing in end elevation a complete circle. Referring to FIG. 3, the longitudinal axis of the straight portion 18 is disposed on a radial line substantially at an angle of 45 from the vertical axis of the circles. Thus, it is disposed laterally of a plane passing through the vertical axes of the loops 17 and 19 so as to afford clearance between it and the traverse rod 14 on which the draw member is arranged to slide. Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the depending handle portion 21 is disposed in front of the mesh screen 1 I so that it may be readily engaged for effecting sliding movement of the screen. Correspondingly, the handle portion 21 is also disposed in front of the traverse rod 14. The leading and trailing loops l7 and 19 are themselves allochirally formed in relation to each other. Thus, beginning with the straight portion 18 which is disposed on the rearward side of the traverse rod 14, as seen in FIG. 1, each of the loops 17 and 19 extends forwardly and downwardly from the respective ends of the straight portion 18 and then under and upwardly rearwardly of the traverse rod 14. The leading loop 17 terminates at a point 20 substantially coincident with the juncture of the loop 17 and the straight portion 18. The trailing loop 19, however, continues over the top of the traverse rod 14 and merges into the depending handle portion 21.

I have found for optimum conditions that a definite relationship exists between the size of the loop openings, the distance between the loops 17 and 19 and the length of the handle 21 in relation to such distance. For example, in an application utilizing No. 9 gage wire having an outside diameter of approximately 0.1483 in., with the size of the loop openings being approximately 0.375 in. and the distance between the loops being approximately 2-"/s in., the length of the handle portion 21 measured from the axis of the loops to the juncture of the knob 22 should be about 2-% in.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the draw member 9 is supported on the traverse rod 14 between two spaced ring members 13 which support the inner end portion of the screen section 1 1. Thus, it will be apparent that as the draw member 9 is manually moved longitudinally of the traverse rod 14, in one direction or another, one or the other of the loops 17 or 19 will engage a ring member. For example, as the draw member is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, the loop 17 will engage the ring member 13 in close proximity thereto and will thereby effect movement of the screen section 11 to the left. Conversely, when the draw member 9 is moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, the loop 19 will be caused to engage the ring member 13 in close proximity thereto and thereby will move the screen 11 to the right to effect opening thereof. It will be apparent that the draw member 9 is not directly connected to the screen 11 but effects movement thereof through engagement with the ring members 13 which are so connected.

As was hereinabove noted, the draw member structurally is allochirally related to draw member 9 and, as such, the leading loops l7 and 17, in each case, are disposed in close proximity to the inner marginal edges of respective screens 11 and 12.

The modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7 constitutes a draw member for a single screen which opens from one end of the fireplace instead of from the center, as in the first described em bodiment. Here the draw member, indicated generally by the numeral 30, is similarly formed of wire or rod and includes leading and trailing loops 31 and 32, respectively connected by an intermediate straight portion 33, the straight portion in this instance being disposed rearwardly and substantially in a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the loops 31 and 32. The leading loop 31 terminates in an arm 34 which is bent to extend longitudinally and angularly on the rearward side of the draw member 30, as seen clearly in FIGS. 5 through 7. The end portion of the arm 34 is preferably flattened and pierced to receive a ring member 36 attached to the upper edge of the screen 37 in close proximity to the side edge thereof. As in the first described embodiment, the handle portion 38 is integral with the draw member and extends downwardly on the forward side of the member. The handle portion 38 may be bent intermediately as illustrated in FIG. 6. The handle portion 38 is provided with a spherical knob 39.

Similarly, as in the first described embodiment, the relationship between the length of the handle portion 38 and the distance between the loops 31 and 32 is substantially the same as in the first described embodiment. For example, in the application illustrated, the distance between the loops 31 and 32 is 2-"/s in. and the length of the handle portion 38 is 2 in.

It will be understood, in each of the embodiments described, that instead of using a spherical knob, the respective handle portions 21 and 33 may be continued and formed into a loop having a diameter substantially equivalent to that of the spherical knob.

In each of the embodiments illustrated, the particular relationship of the loops to the handle portion afford the optimum in leverage moment of inertia, resulting in a smooth sliding member requiring a minimum of effort for operation.

I claim:

1. Draw means for a sliding screen and the like supported on a rod, said draw means being integrally formed and comprising a pair of spaced co-axially aligned loops embracing said rod, an intermediate substantially straight bar rigidly connected to said loops, and a handle depending from one of said loops and manually engageable for moving said draw means longitudinally of said rod.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which one of said loops constitutes the leading end and the other of said loops constitutes the trailing end, with the handle being connected to the trailing end.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the draw means is integrally formed of wire.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 including a knob at the end of said handle.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the intermediate straight bar is disposed laterally of a vertical plane passing through the axis of said loops.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 including an arm extending longitudinally of the loop at the leading end and means connecting said arm to the leading end of said screen.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the screen is supported on said rod by spaced n'ng elements with said draw means being disposed between two consecutive ring elements.

8. Draw means for a sliding screen formed of two sections, each supported on a respective rod and moveable to and from a medial line, said draw means comprising a pair of allochirally formed members, one for each of said screens, each being integrally formed and having a leading loop and a trailing loop with both loops being co-axially disposed and rigidly connected to an intermediate straight bar, and a manually engageable handle depending from each of said trailing loops, the loops of said members embracing respective rods, and each of the leading loops being disposed in close proximity to the inner edge of a respective screen.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which each screen is supported on said rod by spaced ring elements with each member being disposed between two consecutive ring elements supporting a respective screen.

mg TED sums PATENT OFMQ CE'HFEQATE @RETE@N 3. 700. 022 Dated October 24,1972

Patent No.

Inventofls) RANDALL H. EAVES It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the front page of the patent, in the Assignee section, Change DeSOta, Inc." to DeSoto, Inc.-.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. 7 ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. Draw means for a sliding screen and the like supported on a rod, said draw means being integrally formed and comprising a pair of spaced co-axially aligned loops embracing said rod, an intermediate substantially straight bar rigidly connected to said loops, and a handle depending from one of said loops and manually engageable for moving said draw means longitudinally of said rod.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which one of said loops constitutes the leading end and the other of said loops constitutes the trailing end, with the handle being connected to the trailing end.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the draw means is integrally formed of wire.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 including a knob at the end of said handle.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the intermediate straight bar is disposed laterally of a vertical plane passing through the axis of said loops.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 including an arm extending longitudinally of the loop at the leading end and means connecting said arm to the leading end of said screen.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the screen is supported on said rod by spaced ring elements with said draw means being disposed between two consecutive ring elements.
 8. Draw means for a sliding screen formed of two sections, each supported on a respective rod and moveable to and from a medial line, said draw means comprising a pair of allochirally formed members, one for each of said screens, each being integrally formed and having a leading loop and a trailing loop with both loops being co-axially disposed and rigidly connected to an intermediate straight bar, and a manually engageable handle depending from each of said trailing loops, the loops of said members embracing respective rods, and each of the leading loops being disposed in closE proximity to the inner edge of a respective screen.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which each screen is supported on said rod by spaced ring elements with each member being disposed between two consecutive ring elements supporting a respective screen. 